Knowing Sebastian, he was one-hundred percent serious.
I almost laughed. As if I didn’t know how this went down. The predators on the prowl, backstage their den, where they hunted and gorged and devoured.
But that was the thing with Sebastian. He never looked at me as the girl who’d been there or the one who’d seen it all—the one who’d allowed herself to become prey.
To him, I was the innocent country girl from Savannah, the one he did everything in his power to protect.
Was it wrong that fact made me love him just a little more?
“I’ll be right here waiting,” I promised, swaying in his arms.
“Good girl,” he whispered low, breathing me in, nose trailing and hands feeling.
“Mmm…why the fuck do you gotta smell so damned good?” he grumbled through a groan.
Hands went sliding down the front of my thighs, skin to skin. He pressed his face into the hollow where my neck met my shoulder, suckling and kissing and making me weak in the knees. “Feel so good,” he muttered, voice rough. “Driving me right out of my mind.”
In reality, it was him who made me lose mine.
“Wait till I get you back to that room.”
“Maybe I just want to keep you coming back to me,” I taunted a little, letting my weight fall against his pounding chest.
“I will always come back to you.”
The slap Ash landed to the back of Sebastian’s head jarred us from the little cocoon we’d created.
Blue eyes blazed with laughter. “Focus, man. We’re on and you’re over here looking like you’re about to drag your girl into a dark corner. Bros before hos. You know the code. Don’t break my heart by making me kick your ass.”
Sebastian threw an idle punch at him, as idle as the threat. “Whatever, dude. We both know I’d drop you in a second flat.”
Ash bounced around on his toes as if he were going to prove him wrong, fists throwing mock punches in Sebastian’s direction. “In your dreams, Stone. Are you gonna make me have to embarrass you in front of Beautiful Shea, here? You know the only thing that’s gonna do is make this fine woman fall in love with me. No one could blame her. I’m irresistible.”
Sebastian growled through the laughter he was holding back. “About to cross a line, asshole.”
Laughing, I pushed him off, that sweeping, free feeling racing through me again. “Go.”
On a groan, he began to follow Ash, before he seemed to think better of it, and rushed back and pecked my lips in that sweet, sweet way. He pointed at me as he walked backward toward the rest of the guys huddled just out of sight offstage. “Don’t move.”
In amusement, I shook my head, making a silent promise I would always be right here, wherever he was, and mouthed, “Impress me, rocker boy.”
He smiled an earth-shattering smile.
Rocking my world.
My chest squeezed.
The imposing man finally dragged himself away, turning his focus to where it should be and to the band.
Heads leaned in, they formed a circle, unheard words spoken, claps to the back as they hyped themselves up.
Together, the four of them were a force.
Bold and intimidating and beautiful in the most daunting way.
Listening to the chanting roar of the crowd, exhilaration spiraled through my belly. Zee ducked through the curtains and onto the stage. Fisting drumsticks in his hand, he thrust them over his head, looking out over the crowd that screamed like a squall beating at the ocean.
Ash and Lyrik strode out behind him.
That roar turned wild, energy billowing, threatening to spill over.
Sebastian stepped onstage.
Everything erupted.
Screams filled the air as Sebastian slipped the strap of an electric guitar over his head and shouted, “Good evening.”
He edged toward the mic and tapped his foot on a pedal on the floor before he dove right into one of their hard, reckless songs. He strummed a manic beat, skilled fingers sliding in precision up and down the neck of the guitar.
Brilliant and captivating and so talented it shook me to the core.
But it was when his mouth met the mic that his powerful voice tore through me.
Every cell in my body came alive, my heart pressing at my ribs, as I looked at the man I loved more than any other. At the man who was my baby’s father in every way. At the man who’d come with a violent force to upturn my life.
To shake it up with joy and love, with something deep and profound.
The rest of the guys were just as intent on their parts. Lyrik played another electric guitar, all that mess of black on top of his head flying as his body crashed with the beat, Ash’s head lifted toward the sky as he played the bass line, lost to the music, while Zee pounded frantically at the drums on a riser behind them.
On the floor, bodies thrashed.
Untamed.
Slamming and uncontrolled.
Free.
The four looked so much like the first time I’d witnessed them, when I’d locked myself away in the office of Charlie’s, in that moment when I was unsure if I could continue down a path that would lead me right back into the type of life I’d fled.
But I should have known any path I took would lead me straight to Sebastian.
It didn’t matter Sebastian screamed the lyrics, that I felt the words more than I understood them.
His voice still melted over me.
Sinking in and becoming one with my bones.
The words indecipherable yet so clear.
That energy surrounded me, again making me feel as if I were elevated. Riding wave after wave of Sebastian Stone.
From the side, he turned his head with his mouth still pressed to the mic. He was searching. Searching for me.
Those eyes met mine and he swept me away.
The entire show enraptured me.
Lost in his spirit.
Drowning in his presence.
Where he was my air and my hope, the one who’d breathed belief into the hollow loneliness of my heart.
The one who’d filled it.
Tears welled in my eyes as an onslaught of emotion engulfed me, stringing me out, this man devastating in the most stunning way.
When their set came to a close, Sebastian tossed his pick into the crowd, and shouted a last “Goodnight” into the mic. He sauntered offstage as if he were riding that palpitating emotion, too. That intensity went wild, just as wild as those strange grey eyes as they sought me out. A surge of his energy nearly knocked me from my feet the second they landed on me.
There was no hesitation in his step. His stride was long and confident and determined on one singular goal.
Me.
He crashed into me, pushing me up against the nearest solid surface, hands and teeth and tongue.
I grunted when my back hit the huge speaker, and he just kissed me harder, deeper, as if he were trying to climb inside, a dark halo vibrating from his spirit and desperation in his touch. With each needy caress, it was as if he were transferring it to me, lighting me up, inciting and stirring—a provocation that went so much deeper than just the surface.
“Shea,” he moaned in something that sounded like relief. My fingers wove through his hair, bringing him closer, kissing him deeper.
Falling.
As if there was no end. No beginning.
Just us, now, and forever.
“You about done?” Lyrik’s voice broke the connection.
“Not even close,” Sebastian muttered at my mouth, still clutching me tight.
A dark chuckle slid from Lyrik. “Show’s over, man.”
Obviously, he was referring to more than Sunder being on stage.
God, I lost myself with Sebastian, forgot where I was and who would see.
Sebastian just grumbled at him as he continued to kiss me. “Go away.”
“Not a chance, my friend. You need to shower…we have plans. Remember?”
Sebastian glar
ed at him from over his shoulder, still holding onto me as if he were going to dive right back in. “That was before my girl showed up and altered my plans.”
Lyrik looked at me. “Shea’s all part of the plan, aren’t you, Shea?”
I was almost reluctant to nod, because I wanted nothing more than Sebastian to finally get me behind closed doors.
But somehow I forced myself to agree. “Yep…part of the plan.”
A grin pulled at one side of my mouth when he narrowed his eyes in my direction.
“You just showed up to torture me, didn’t you, woman?”
“Don’t be a pussy, man. A little anticipation never hurt anyone,” Lyrik spouted off as he raked a hand through his hair.
“Wouldn’t call four weeks a little anticipation.” He turned back to me with the suggestion of the demand twisting on his lips. “Tell me how you’re gonna make it up to me.”
Hands eager and teasing at the hem of his shirt, I pressed one more kiss to that pretty, pretty mouth. “Any. Way. You. Want.”
“Now you’re just asking for trouble.”
No doubt. But I was willing to take whatever he wanted to bring.
Sebastian ripped himself away and helped me right myself on unsteady feet.
Again, Sebastian left me in the little room, promising to be right back. He was gone for little more than five minutes before he was there. Changed, brown hair damp and darkened, he wore a long-sleeved button-up shirt with the cuffs rolled to just below his elbows, his undeniable strength revealed in the bristling muscle beneath the intricate ink etched on the exposed skin of his forearms.
There was no missing the heads that turned, the desire evident in the blatant stares as eyes were drawn in the direction of this magnificent man. Dripping of sex and darkness. Shrouded in mystery. A riddle only I had the answer to.
A freshly showered Ash waltzed in right behind and clapped his hands once in front of him. “Let’s do this.”
Sebastian gathered my hand back in his while Ash talked to the small group of friends who were meeting us at the club. The five of us headed out the back door and into the night, the November sky cool, the sounds of revelry riding on the air.
The SUV that had dropped us off sat waiting, but it was a black Maserati convertible parked behind it that Sebastian went straight for.
My steps faltered and my mouth dropped open.
I was supposed to be dishing out the surprises this weekend, not the other way around.
At my reaction, Sebastian just gave me an offhanded shrug and tugged at my hand as he walked out ahead of me, turning to face me and taking a few steps back. “Made a call when I ordered your stuff for the room. Figured we might want our own ride for the weekend.”
“I would hardly call that a ride.”
“What? It has wheels.”
And I knew without a doubt this was for me, because Sebastian’s tastes so obviously leaned toward the mean, blacked-out cars with big engines and muscle and guts. This car was sleek, small, and fast, pretentious luxury at its finest.
“You’re insane, Sebastian from California.”
His laughter was free and full, and filled me whole, my lungs pressing firm at my ribs as I relished in the sound.
“Can’t blame a man for taking care of his girl.”
“More like spoiling her.”
He tugged me hard, making me fall into the warmth of his chest. His heart beat steady and strong. Fingertips brushed along my jaw as the words went soft. “Don’t mind doing a little of that, either.”
I relinquished, and Sebastian helped me into the soft leather of the front seat, ambled around the front, hopped into the driver’s seat, and started the car.
We followed the SUV to the club Ash had arranged for Sebastian’s party, back when Sebastian thought it was just going to be him and the guys and a few of their friends out for a night on the town.
A kaleidoscope of lights blazed from the strip. Every casino and hotel was lit up like a torch that promised gratification found in no other place than this city. The top was down and the air was cool, and my heart beat a thunder of contentment in my chest. One of my hands was secured on Sebastian’s thigh, the other weaving through the rushing air where my arm was draped over the windowsill.
Ten minutes later, we pulled up to the valet right behind the Escalade, and Sebastian ran around and helped me out. He kept his hand in mine, his head lifted without the reservation he typically wore around the media, as a volley of camera flashes erupted the second we stepped into view.
A red rope held back a line of partygoers dressed to impress, hopeful to make it inside. A few of them called out for Sunder as the band strode right toward the entrance. Some singled out Sebastian, calling his name to grab his attention, as they lifted their phones and snagged pictures. He smiled in their direction—the man all happiness and excitement—without an ounce of bristling hostility that normally accompanied being in the public eye.
And I realized sometimes love soothes some of that anger away.
I clung to his side. The force of my smile, this joy inside me, was more than I could understand.
“Delaney Rhoads,” someone shouted from the line.
On instinct, my eyes flashed that direction, not sure what to do. Whether I should run or hide or lift my chin in pride the same way Sebastian seemed to do.
Sebastian hugged me a little tighter, quiet support, voice casual when he called out, “Her name’s Shea, man. Don’t forget it.”
Someone laughed and hollered, “Shea,” and I just smiled and offered a timid wave, allowing Sebastian to lead me through the entrance of the overflowing club.
Inside, it was darker than night yet brighter than day, bodies lit up like silhouettes in the strobes of light. Professional dancers were suspended from the high cathedral ceiling in cages as the crowd raved below, coves of booths and tables tucked out of sight around the dance floor.
Led upstairs to a private room, we were seated on plush sofas. A myriad of lights glowed from the mirrored ceilings and glass-paned walls, giving us an unobstructed view of the writhing dance floor below.
Sebastian was quick to pull me down beside him, and I curled into his side as he fastened an arm around my shoulders.
More of Sebastian’s friends piled in, some who I’d met at the show, others completely unfamiliar, arms draped around girls wearing next to nothing as they filtered in to wish Sebastian Happy Birthday.
But none were as eager to get the party started as Ash.
He ordered a round of shots for everyone, and the two cocktail waitresses assigned to our party delivered them a couple minutes later.
Ash stood and lifted his glass. “I do believe it’s time for a toast.”
Sebastian muttered, “Uh, oh.”
A round of hoots went up, and everyone lifted their tiny glasses of tequila rimmed in salt and garnished with wedges of lime.
I followed suit, smiling up at Sebastian.
Playful eyes glinted down at me.
“We all know I’ve been putting up with your sorry ass for a long time now…” Ash began his toast in a tone that sounded regretful, but by the smirk showing up on every line on his face, everyone knew it was anything but. “Years just keep flyin’ by and you keep getting’ older and uglier while I somehow manage to maintain all my boyish good looks. No surprise there, right?” he offered while he raised his arms out to the sides in that cocky way, nodding his head around the room as he tried to get everyone to agree with him.
Laughter rolled.
Sebastian just chuckled quietly and rubbed his palm over his mouth, amusement clear as he let his friend razz him the way he always did.
No harm given.
None taken.
While he continued to gloat, something genuine edged the creases at the corners of Ash’s eyes. “We’ve been through some really horrific times, man…some really fuckin’ good ones, too. And my hope is those good ones just keep coming and coming, because I don’t know of anyone in t
his world who deserves them more than you. Happy Birthday, Baz.”
They shared a silent moment before Ash raised his glass higher and toward Sebastian.
“To Sebastian.” A racket of voices lifted. “Happy Birthday.”
Shots were downed.
All except for Sebastian’s and mine. Because he turned the intensity of those eyes to my face, passing the moment Ash and he had shared on to me. I felt drawn, and I shifted in the same second Sebastian was turning me, urging me forward.
I straddled his lap.
I didn’t care there were a bunch of people here I didn’t know, who didn’t know me. Didn’t care about the women who were probably thirsting for my man, thinking I was just another passing craze, a fling or a fuck or whatever they wanted to believe me to be.
When the truth was, I was his.
Sebastian glanced his thumb over my bottom lip, eyes trailing the action, before he took a wedge of lime and ran it over the same spot.
I could feel the blood rush to plump my lip.
He then ran it over the top, the sensitive skin tingling with the touch, wet by the trickle of juice.
The scent of citrus filled my nostrils.
I sucked in a shaky breath, and he lifted the shot glass to my mouth, the taste of salt hitting my tongue right before the tequila followed it.
Sebastian leaned forward to gather his own taste. His tongue was soft as it rimmed my lips, before it softly slipped inside.
Savoring.
Tempting.
Teasing.
A promise of what was to come.
I wrapped my arms around his head while he kissed me and I whispered, “Happy Birthday.”
“Best birthday ever,” he whispered back.
The atmosphere was easy, carefree, and Sebastian refused to let me off his lap as he talked with those who’d come to help him celebrate.
The mood became elevated as more drinks were tossed back. Ash and Lyrik let go, the way they so often did at Charlie’s, joking around, living their lives on their terms.
Somehow they’d managed to create their own dance floor upstairs in our private room, people coming and going as more and more unfamiliar, star-struck faces appeared.
Drowning to Breathe Page 19
